Category: Blog posts

You brush and floss daily and see your dentist for your routine care, but every time you turn around you are in need of more dental treatment. It’s easy to understand why you might think you’re suffering from bad teeth genes, but what if there’s more to it?

In biological dentistry, we explore the inter-connections between the mouth and body. Sometimes these connections can be jaw dropping. Despite their being on opposite ends of the body, studies have shown evidence that mobility improvements of the jaw can relieve tension in the pelvic area and vice versa. Additionally, if the hips or jaw is off balance, there is a good chance the other is too. Though this may seem strange, it begins to make sense when you explore the relationship between pelvis/hips and jaw.

Embryological Development
The connection begins during embryological development around day fifteen – this stage is called gastrulation. Two depressions form on the dorsal side of an embryo. One becomes the oropharyngeal membrane that will form the mouth, and the other is the cloacal membrane that will form the openings of the urinary, reproductive, and digestive tracts. The two remain connected, and the spine later grows between them.

Craniosacral
The cranium (head) and sacrum (back of the pelvis) are connected through the dura mater, which is the outer layer of connective tissue that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord. Tension or imbalance on either end can have an effect on the other.Fascial
Fascia is connective tissue that supports and connects every muscle, organ, bone, and blood vessel. The Deep Frontal Line is a fascial line that connects the muscles in the pelvis to the muscles in the jaws and neck. A mobility issue or tension anywhere along this connection can adversely affect both the jaw and pelvic floor.

Stress/Emotions
The jaw and pelvis can often be avenues of expression. People tend to carry stress tension in both areas. When undergoing stress, we often clench our jaw, grind our teeth, tense up the muscles of the pelvic floor and abdomen, and clench our buttocks. This tension can sometimes be related to suppressed anger, fear, or other negative emotions.

With a deeper understanding of these connections, we are better able to create root cause solutions that treat the whole body, not just the teeth.

HGH is a protein produced by the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary gland to produce growth hormone, which then travels through the bloodstream to function in other parts of the body. Though many factors influence growth, HGH is the primary growth regulator in the body. Growth hormone stimulates the growth of bone, muscle, and tissue, while also contributing to proper bone density.

HGH also helps to regulate metabolism by transporting molecules, conserving sugars, building proteins, and breaking down fats. Growth hormone production is vital to maintaining healthy body composition. Low levels can compromise quality of life and increase the risk for disease.

Because of it’s significant role in growth and bone density, maintaining proper levels of HGH is helpful for achieving optimal outcomes in dental surgeries and growth appliance therapy. By stimulating bone growth, growth hormone encourages natural healing and expansion.

Here are a few ways to improve your body’s HGH production naturally:

• Improve Sleep Quality
• Decrease Body Fat
• Intermittent Fasting
• High Intensity Exercise
• Reduce Sugar Intake
• Avoid Eating Before Bed

It’s important to note that growth hormone secretion peaks during deep sleep, making quality rest a key factor in HGH levels. The majority of growth hormone is released in pulses during sleep, based on circadian rhythm. Studies show that poor sleep reduces the amount of HGH produced by the body, so try taking some steps to improve sleep and increase growth hormone production.

It’s easy to look at snoring as just a minor inconvenience or annoyance. But the truth is, snoring is often much more than a nuisance to your partner. Snoring is associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and can be a sign of much more serious health problems.

When you sleep, the muscles in your throat lose tone and relax, creating a smaller airway. Meanwhile, the size of your lungs does not change, nor do your oxygen needs. This means that during sleep, you have to get the same volume of air through a smaller space. This causes turbulent airflow. When this air flows past relaxed throat tissues, it vibrates the tissue causing a harsh sound – this sound is what we refer to as snoring.

Some common reasons for snoring are allergies, cold, alcohol consumption, being overweight, or sleeping on your back. However, snoring can be due to a structural issue of the mouth, throat, and/or sinuses. When the airway is already narrowed or partially blocked, relaxed tissues from lying down can contribute to the blockage, potentially leading to an even bigger problem.

Though not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, most people who have Sleep Apnea do snore. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a sleep related breathing disorder where a person experiences pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses or stops in breathing are due to partial or complete airway collapse. OSA can be incredibly dangerous, as it is associated with health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and even death.

Here are a few signs that you should speak to your doctor about your snoring:

• pauses or stopped breathing during sleep
• choking, snorting, or gasping for air during sleep
• waking up frequently at night
• morning headaches
• mood disorders
• daytime sleepiness

Whether it’s seasonal allergies or a structural issue, there are treatment options available. You don’t have to continue suffering from poor or lack of sleep. Talk to an airway focused provider soon.

That’s right, your teeth have living inner cores which make them function as individual organs. Though we focus mostly on the outside enamel of a tooth, there are several layers to teeth, each with its own important functions.

Tooth enamel protects the inner more fragile areas of teeth. Because it is not made of living cells, the body cannot repair damaged enamel. This incredibly durable substance ensures the pressure and friction of chewing, as well as the bacteria, plaque, acid, and other substances that pass through the mouth.

The next layer of tooth is called dentin. Dentin reinforces tooth enamel to help support the structure of the tooth. This tooth layer is home to cells called odontoblasts that help build teeth and eliminate unwanted microbes.

These outer layers main goal is to protect the inner core of the tooth – the pulp. The pulp is made up of connective tissue, blood vessels, and cells. It connects the tooth to the nervous system and blood supply.

The tooth connection to the rest of the body as well as it’s ability to protect, build, and repair itself, make a tooth a lot like a little organ in the mouth. When a tooth loses blood and nerve supply, it is considered a “dead tooth,” which accelerates the rate of decay and eventually becomes a candidate for root canal treatment.

Teeth are very much alive, and need to be taken care of from both the inside and outside to maintain oral health.